I’m very excited for the chance to do a completely updated presentation of the ‘Secrets of Great Portrait Photography’ at this year’s PhotoPlus Expo on October 27th in NYC. PDN’s PhotoPlus Expo is the U.S. version of Photokina – it’s a trade show and learning experience. I’ll pass along all my tips about photographing people and shooting great portraits. We had a full house last year and this year’s talk will be even better with lots of new photos and tips.

Seminar Description:Celebrity portrait photographer Brian Smith will share the lessons he’s learned over the past 30 years capturing the faces of the famous, infamous and un-famous as a top magazine portrait photographer. He will discuss his approach to editorial and commercial photography assignments from concept to final images, detailing his approach to lighting and problem solving on productions large and small. He will also share his secrets for working quickly to capture the personality of the people he photographs. Finally, Smith will discuss how personal projects can be used to generate commercial and editorial photography assignments and to allow your personal style to evolve and grow while generating assignments you love to shoot.

In addition to this seminars, I’ll be speaking and doing shooting demos along with all of the Sony Artisans at the Sony booth on the PhotoPlus Expo trade show floor.

Please join all the major photography trade organizations by saying “NO” to the NYC Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting (MOFTB) plan to assess a $300 fee for film permit application processing. This is three hundred buck whether you’re doing a three month-long feature film with a crew of hundreds or a 15-minute still shoot with a crew of one.

For a feature film that’s nothing. But in a time that the magazine industry is particularly hard hit and everybody’s budgets are getting pared to the bone, it may me whether a shoot happens or not. This is a poorly conceived idea coming at the worst economic time and destined to place the heaviest burden on those who can least afford it. In short it’s a BAD idea.

All the major photography trade organizations: EP, ASMP, APA and NPPA will be at a hearing next Thursday, June 3 at 2PM at 125 Worth Street auditorium. If you are in the city that day, your attendance would be greatly appreciated!